About

Short version:

First year math teacher at a mid-west USA, suburban high school. Ten years experience as a special education assistant. Trying to teach math for understanding and mastery. Trying to make a difference in the lives of my students. Math team coach (fourth year) and new class sponsor.

You can contact me at jackie1618(at)gmail(dot)com

Long version:

I’m a thirty-something year old first year math teacher, starting my eleventh year working in high schools. I’ve always wanted to teach high school math although my reasons for doing so have changed over the years. I was studying mathematics and secondary ed in college when…life interfered with my plans. So, I worked a few other jobs for a few years, got married, and had an instant family. I wasn’t happy not being in education and worried about returning to school (I worry a lot) - so I began working at an alternative high school as a special education assistant.

Our program mainly served students who were wards of the state due to abuse and neglect. Abilities ranged from grade level to pre-literate. Anyone who has worked in a small school knows that job descriptions don’t always match actual duties. Good bosses find out what you’re good at and let you run with it. Great bosses find a way to pay you for it. I had a great boss.

Over the seven years I spent at the alternative site my role evolved. I designed the master schedule (4 x 4 block with a highly transitory population - I was always re-building the schedule), co-coordinated all state/district assessments, helped design the emotional intelligence curriculum, tested all incoming students for placement, wrote a grant to get some library books and became the school librarian, and taught some math too (of course, there was always a certified teacher in the room - don’t worry).

I was happy - drained, but happy. They were a tough bunch - gang involvement, tons of issues, fragmented skills… the list goes on and on. I felt though, like I was making a difference. They were learning. Learning reading, learning mathematics, and learning to trust again. I was really happy.

Our program closed due circumstances beyond our control. Our kids were scattered to different placements. Our staff was dispersed into the mainstream buildings in the district. I knew I wouldn’t be happy going back to being “just” as special ed. assistant (no offense intended), so I went back to school at night.

I loved the new high school. I missed my kids, but I found new ones. Started coaching the math team by accident, was asked to be on the school improvement team, helped the special education staff begin to make some changes to the curriculum, and made a new home. Taking three classes a semester at night was brutal (I would not recommend a 15+ year break between Calc 3 and Real Analysis to anyone). Having to redo all of my observations hours & ed courses was inane (my previous hours were outdated & my experience didn’t count). Finished my student teaching last spring and was hired by the same school as a math teacher.

So, I’m very lucky in that I already know the building, the deans, the counselors, the climate, the curriculum…where to find the copy machine. That should make the first year a bit easier - I hope.

I don’t plan on writing about the “math wars”. I fall somewhere in the middle. I’ll share things that are working, ask for advice when things aren’t, and try to avoid pointless complaining.

This content of this site is the sole responsibility of the author only and in no way reflects the opinions of the district and/or school for whom I work (is the disclaimer clear enough?).